Which skills set hospitality candidates apart

Aja Frost

Feb 25, 2016

You’re eager to land a job in hospitality—and looking for that essential skill that will make you an obvious hire.

While there’s definitely a lot of diversity in the abilities needed to succeed in this industry, we’ve identified three skills that any hiring manager will be enthusiastic about. And even better, we’ll show you how to show them off during the application process.

1. Speaking a Foreign Language

Knowing a second language instantly makes you more hirable. After all, if your role involves guest interaction, you’ll be able to communicate with those that have a limited or nonexistent grasp of the English language. Not only will foreign guests feel more comfortable, but they’ll inevitably have an easier time getting around, finding the right resources, and enjoying their experience.

Even if you don’t talk to guests, you can communicate with those on staff who are also fluent in the same language.

How to show it:

If you’re bilingual, make sure you’ve incorporated this fact into multiple parts of your job application. In your cover letter, describe why your fluency would be an asset; on your resume, list your language under “Skills.”

2. Salesmanship

Hiring managers love job candidates who can sell. It might not seem obvious, but almost every position in the hospitality industry involves some degree of sales—the only factor that changes is what you’re selling.

For example, if you’re a guest services agent, you need to be able to sell guests on room packages and promotions. If you’re a waiter, you need to sell guests on the appetizer options or cocktails. If you’re a manager, you need to sell your team on the values and practices of the organization.

How to show it:

In general, salesmanship is a quality that’s better implied than directly stated (unless, of course, you’re going for a sales role). On your resume, use words like “promoted,” “communicated value of,” “generated demand for,” and so forth.

3. Adaptability

Since the day-to-day in hospitality is so unpredictable, being able to react quickly and calmly to changes is really important.

Let’s say you’re applying for a position as a breakfast attendant. If a guest starts loudly complaining about the quality of the food, would you know how to resolve the situation before things got out-of-hand? Or if you’re interviewing as a cook, do you feel confident you could find a solution if you discovered a quality control issue

How to show it:

Prove your resourcefulness by sharing examples of crises that you handled well. This is best done during the interview, when you’ll have plenty of time to provide detail and answer any follow-up questions.

If the hiring manager asks, “What’s one of your strengths?” (a very common question), you might respond, “I’m great at dealing with unexpected problems. For example, in my previous job as a (title)…”

If you can highlight one of these skills, you’ll improve your chances. If you can highlight all three, you’ll be a top choice for any employer.